One Tiny Lie
(Ten Tiny Breaths #2)
by
K. A. Tucker
***
Fiction-GENERAL
Book-Review-If-I-Stay
If I Stay
(If I Stay, #1)
Gayle Forman
If I stay was my first Gayle Forman read, however, it won’t be my last. Initially I found the title confusing and nothing in the blurb gave away he plot either.
Mia is a cellist; and a good one at that. And at the tender age of 17 she is finding out that life is full of choices. Practise or hang out with friends. Practise or go to a concert. Practise or listen to her boyfriend’s band play.
An unusual fall of snow closes all schools. Mia’s family decide to go for a drive as the snow has barely covered the ground. Only a few minutes into their drive something happens which leaves Mia with only one choice to make. To go; or to stay. Where?
If I Stay was a good quick read which I enjoyed, however, I’m sure there is some among us who will not enjoy the story. I did enjoy If I Stay and although I felt the story was simply being padded at times I thought it still worthy of three stars.
The ending is abrupt, although appropriate
I rated
If I Stay
as a three
star read.
At the time of writing my review
other Goodreads readers had awarded
If I Stay
an average of 3.94 stars,
from 745,981 ratings,
and 38,989 reviews.
*****
If I Stay
can be purchased on-line at
Booktopia, Fishpond and Amazon
Book-Review-The-Stockman’s-Secret
~~~~~
The Stockman’s Secret
by
Mandy Magro
Mandy Magro’s The Stockman’s Secret, was my fifth of her books and as usual it is set in Queensland.
Juliette is the step-daughter of Little Heart’s minister. Unknown to step-Dad, Juliette and Joel have been seeing each other for some time and have become a couple because both had been the target of school bullies.
Juliette and Joel are attacked one night by these bullies and Joel cannot understand why Juliette wants to keep the attack a secret.
However, when one of the bullies confronts Joel and tells Joel what he will do to Juliette next time, it is more than Joel can bear.
In a bar room brawl, Joel punches Bully. Juliette breaks up with Joel. Joel packs his bags and takes a jackaroo’s job a Rosalee station.
When Joel eventually decides it’s time to return to Little Heart, he finds things have changed quite a lot. Bully 1, is a respected doctor and Juliette’s husband is trying to make his mark on local politics. The main questions which need to be answered are: Will bully 1 get his comeuppance? Does Juliette still have feelings for Joel or is she happily married? Will Joel’s family accept his return?
I enjoyed The Stockman’s Secret.
I rated
The Stockman’s Secret
as a
three star read/audiobook
At the time of writing my review
other Goodreads readers had awarded
The Stockman’s Secret
an average of 4.08 stars
from 159 ratings
and 32 reviews
The Stockman’s Secret
can be purchased online at
Booktopia, Fishpond and Amazon
Book-Review-In-Her-Wake
In Her Wake
(Ten Tiny Breaths #1.5, Novella)
by
K. A. Tucker
***
K. A. Tucker’s In Her Wake is not quite a sequel to Ten Tiny Breaths; it’s more like an addition to Ten Tiny Breaths. In Her Wake tells Trent’s side of the story right up until he and Kacey meet for the first time.
I finished reading Ten Tiny Breaths and immediately commenced In Her Wake where we hear of Trent’s back story where many How’s and Why’s are answered. In essence we hear the other side of Ten Tiny Breaths. Trent’s side, as opposed to Kacey’s pain and suffering.
In Her Wake joins the Forever Wild novella (also by K. A. Tucker) on my best novellas shelf.
Many other novellas have tried to be complete stories, end abruptly and left me wanting more. In Her Wake wrapped up loose ends on Trent’s side of the ledger in Ten Tiny Breaths.
The ending to In Her Wake was spot on. Another word or sentence would have been too much.
For the above reasons I am, again, breaking my three stars only for novellas rule and have awarded In Her Wake four stars as an addendum to Ten Tiny Breaths.
At the time of writing my review,
other Goodreads readers have rated
In Her Wake
an average of 4.1 stars
from 6,102 ratings
and 621 reviews.
***
I rated
In Her Wake
as an enjoyable
four star read.
***
In Her Wake
can be purchased online at
Booktopia, Fishpond and Amazon
***
Book-Review-Ten-Tiny-Breaths
Ten Tiny Breaths
(Ten Tiny Breaths #1)
by
K. A. Tucker
***
K. A. Tucker’s, Ten Tiny Breaths follows Kacey Cleary’s life after her parents, boyfriend and best friend are killed by a drunk driver. Miraculously she survives the crash which also killed two of three occupants of the offending vehicle. Fifteen year year old Livie, Kacey’s younger sister tries to be a steadying influence while Kacey resorts to sex, alcohol and drug to ease the survivour’s guilt and pain she feels.
It takes a visit from Uncle Raymond, to young Livie’s bed, one night to bring Kacey out of her spiral. Together the girls run to Florida, rent an apartment and start a new life, with a grumpy landlord, a single mum, and a sexy good looking guy next door. Trent.
The question is not will but when will Kacey succumb to sexy good looking guy’s charms.
–
Ten Tiny Breaths may be cliched, however, I found Ten Tiny Breaths to be an enjoyable and reasonably quick read.
At the time of writing my review,
other Goodreads readers have rated
Ten Tiny Breaths
an average of 4.12 stars
from 72,123 ratings
and 5,747 reviews.
***
I rated
Ten Tiny Breaths
as an enjoyable
four star read.
***
Ten Tiny Breaths
can be purchased online at
Booktopia, Fishpond and Amazon
***
Book Review-The-Void-Greig-Beck
The Void
(Alex Hunter #7)
by
Greig Beck
A few years ago we visited Alaska, where a large part of The Void is set, and I am so pleased I read Grieg Beck’s, The Void after our visit.
Being a believer of ‘life out there’ I was hooked the moment I heard of an object coming from outer space, and on a collision course with an American spaceship. The intrigue only increased as said object changed its course to follow the astronauts in their ship. A crash landing in a crater in Alaska makes the ideal spot for our extra-terrestrial bodies to begin their earthly life. However, our extra-terrestrials were not counting on Alex Hunter and his team to intervene.
While circling earth photos had been taken of every missile silo in the world. Hunter’s mission was to retrieving the memory card (from the spaceship) which contained all these images. The Russians and their new breed of soldiers were also interested in finding the downed spacecraft for the same reason.
The Void has the same never a dull moment pace and intrigue as any of Greg Beck’s previous books and I, again, thoroughly enjoyed Sean Mangan’s narration of The Void.
******
I think
The Void
is a
read.
***
At the time of writing my review,
other Goodreads readers have rated
The Void
an average of 4.24 stars
from 697 ratings
and 67 reviews.
The Void
can be purchased online at
Fishpond, Booktopia, and Amazon
Book-Review-Flame-Tree-Hill
~~~~~
Flame Tree Hill
by
Mandy Magro
Flame Tree Hill was my fourth Mandy Magro book and according to Google it was Ms Magro’s eleventh which explains why I thought it her best read/listen so far.
In the past 18 months I have read several authors’ works and while a first book generally is okay storylines improve as an author’s body of work grows.
Flame Tree Hill dealt with some country issues I can relate to as a country boy. However, the main issue and primary focus of Flame Tree Hill, is breast cancer.
Chapter one sees Kirsty Mitchell thinking of returning home to her family property, Flame Tree Hill, located just out of Cairns in Far North Queensland. She is out on her first cattle muster when she has to scratch an itch and before we know there is a distressing diagnosis at hand.
From there we follow the highs and lows of an on again and off again romance and insecurities associated with breast cancer and its treatment.
I enjoyed Flame Tree Hill, however, I am not a fan of the topic. Flame Tree Hill has a nice ending particularly as a revelation threatens to break the romance.
I rated
Flame Tree Hill
as a three star read/audiobook
At the time of writing my review
other Goodreads readers had awarded
Flame Tree Hill
an average of 4.13 stars
from 248 ratings
and 39 reviews
Flame Tree Hill
can be purchased online at
Booktopia, Fishpond and Amazon
Book-Review-The-Two-Lost-Mountains
The Two Lost Mountains
(Jack West Jr, #6)
by
Matthew Reilly
Matthew Reilly’s The Two Lost Mountains is the sixth in the series of Jack West Books, follows directly on from The Three Secret Cities. Again Jack West Junior is doing battle with the various leaders and influencers of The Four Legendary Kingdoms.
Initially I found The Two Lost Mountains difficult to read. The first third of the book seemed to take forever to read while the latter two thirds passed very quickly. Although, overall, I enjoyed The Two Lost Mountains I find that I am growing tired of our heroes doing battle with the same or similar, villains. And I hear there is a One lost/found/missing title still to come.
As usual, The Two Lost Mountains sees Matthew Reilly putting Jack West through all sorts of trials in his efforts to outwit and defeat the leaders of The Four Legendary Kingdoms.
As with all the Jack West books The Two Lost Mountains may be read as a standalone novel or as book six of the series. If you are new to Matthew Reilly books be prepared for references to Secret Cities and Four Legendary Kingdoms. There references are only minor, in my opinion, definitely not long winded references as with some other authors.
I did not pick the ending although I was asking myself how Reilly was going to end this novel.
Matthew Reilly fans will enjoy
Jack West’s adventure.
I have rated
The Two Lost Mountains
as a
four star read.
At the time of completing my review
other Goodreads readers had awarded
The Two Lost Mountains
an average of 4.30 stars
from 1,660 ratings
and 186 reviews.
******
The Two Lost Mountains
can be purchased on-line at
Amazon, Booktopia, and Fishpond
Book-Review-Forever-Wild
Forever Wild
(The Simple Wild, #2.5)
by
K. A. Tucker
***
K. A. Tucker’s Forever Wild is a sequel to Wild at Heart and features Calla’s and Jonah’s adventures/romance in Alaska.
Both sets of parents are soon to arrive for Calla’s first Alaskan Christmas with Jonah at Trapper’s Crossing.
Tension mounts as in-laws arrive bringing with them their own ideas of right and wrong and causing clashes with Jonah mostly, while Calla simply changes the subject to diffuse arguments.
Jonah and Calla are more settled than the last time we paid them a visit. Their life is good except for one minor detail…a wedding date is still not fixed.
I thoroughly enjoyed Forever Wild and felt that some of the spark of the original Calla and Jonah (The Simple Wild) was back with us. Their personalities seem to have matured.
There is just one complaint about the Forever Wild novella, and that is simply that it is only a novella.
On the plus side it is probably the best novella I have read. Other novellas have left me wanting more. Forever Wild wrapped up all loose ends and even provides a nice ending which bodes well for another Wild book. For these reasons I am breaking my three stars only for novellas rule and have awarded Forever Wild four stars.
At the time of writing my review,
other Goodreads readers have rated
Forever Wild
an average of 4.43 stars
from 4,880 ratings
and 823 reviews.
I rated
The Simple Wild
as an enjoyable 
five star read.
At the time of writing my review
other Goodreads readers have rated
Forever Wild
an average of 4.43 stars
from 4,841 ratings
and 820 reviews.
***
Forever Wild
can be purchased online at
Booktopia, Fishpond and Amazon
***
Book-Review-When-the-Snow-Gums-Dance
When the Snow Gums Dance
by
Anne McCullagh Rennie
When the Snow Gums Dance another enjoyable read by Anne McCullagh Rennie, commences in Snow Gum country in Victoria’s Alpine region and features Kylie Harris who is the ski queen of her local district.
Neither Kylie nor her sister Gwen is happy when their parents decide to move to Dunk Island to run a resort. The girls want snow and so they decide to head off Canada’s Whistler snow fields to work the season. While in Whistler they are asked to stay on and work the next season in Aspen. A big mistake!
After returning to Australia Kylie’s next move is into aid working in Papua New Guinea. While there she bumps into Danno a boy who she had teenage crush on many years prior. However, again fate intervenes. After completing her time in Papua new Guinea she is only days away from returning to aid working, this time in Sri-Lanka, when fate deals another card.
Legend has it that if two people kiss beneath the snow gums, the result will be a love greater and more potent than any other on the face of the earth. The question is, will Kylie find her one true love after a snow gums kiss?
When the Snow Gums Dance is an easy read, fast paced, romance by Anne Rennie. It is devoid of coarse language and heavy sex scenes. When the Snow Gums Dance, a breath of fresh air after reading other novels which almost revolve around the bedroom.
If you like good clean storylines I feel certain that you will love Anne McCullagh Rennie’s novels.
I have rated
When the Snow Gums Dance
as an enjoyable
read/audio
~~~~~
At the time of writing my review
other Goodreads readers
have awarded
When the Snow Gums Dance
an average of 3.47 stars
from 30 ratings
and 7 reviews
~~~~~
When the Snow Gums Dance
can be purchased online at
Fishpond, Booktopia and Amazon
~~~~~
